Revelation 21:2
What does Revelation 21:2 mean?
A plain-English look at Revelation 21:2 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Revelation 21:2 means
John sees the holy city, new Jerusalem, descending from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. The city is both a place and a people—the perfected community of the redeemed, made beautiful by God’s grace. Its origin “from God” emphasizes that salvation and final glory are gifts, not human achievements. The bridal imagery conveys love, joy, purity, and covenant union. Heaven does not stay distant; the city comes down, uniting God’s realm with the renewed earth. This is the fulfillment of God’s plan to dwell with His people in intimate, festive, permanent fellowship.
Revelation 21:2 in context
Revelation 21 — A New Heaven and a New Earth
John's final vision. The first heaven and earth pass away, and the New Jerusalem comes down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. God himself dwells with his people; he wipes away every tear; there is no more death, sorrow, crying, or pain. The former things are passed away. The light of the city is the glory of God; its lamp is the Lamb. The story that began in the garden of Genesis ends in the city of Revelation, and the gates are never shut.
- New creation
- God dwelling with man
- End of death and sorrow
- Eternal worship
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And I saw the holy town, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, like a bride made beautiful for her husband.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and I, John, saw the holy city--new Jerusalem--coming down from God out of the heaven, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And I, John, saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of the heaven fromGod, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Context
After announcing a new creation, the vision narrows to its heart: the new Jerusalem. The bride imagery introduced here will shape everything that follows, as John is later invited to behold “the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” The city’s descent sets the trajectory for the chapter—God’s dwelling coming to His people—preparing for the great voice from the throne that interprets the meaning of this arrival in terms of God’s presence and comfort.
v.1And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth are passed away; and the sea is no more.
v.2This passage
v.3And I heard a great voice out of the throne saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he shall dwell with them, and they shall be his peoples, and God himself shall be with them, and betheir God:
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Hebrews 12:22
but ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable hosts of angels,
- Revelation 21:10
And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,
- Hebrews 13:14
For we have not here an abiding city, but we seek after the city which is to come.
- Ephesians 5:25
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself up for it;
- Hebrews 11:10
for he looked for the city which hath the foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
- Revelation 3:12
He that overcometh, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go out thence no more: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God, and mine own new name.
Sermon ideas from Revelation 21:2
Angles a pastor or small-group leader might preach or teach from this passage, drawn from the chapter's main themes.
What Revelation 21:2 teaches us about new creation
What Revelation 21:2 teaches us about god dwelling with man
What Revelation 21:2 teaches us about end of death and sorrow
What Revelation 21:2 teaches us about eternal worship
Related questions readers ask
Keep reading
Want to dig deeper? Explore Revelation 21
Hand-picked devotionals, topical studies, and pastoral answers that draw on Revelation 21.
Topics that quote it
Topic
Bible Verses About Adoption as Sons
God’s plan for us includes adoption into his family, bringing us from spiritual orphanhood to beloved children.
Topic
Bible Verses About Glorification
Glorification is the final stage of salvation, where believers receive perfect, incorruptible bodies and are made completely like Christ.
Topic
Bible Verses About God as Light
Exploring how God reveals Himself as light, symbolizing His holiness, truth, and presence in scripture
What the Bible says about…
Verses for this moment
Verses for
Bible Verses for the Fear of Death
When you're afraid to die — what scripture promises about the last enemy.
Verses for
Bible Verses for Grief After Losing Someone You Love
When the room is empty — verses that grieve with you, not around you.
Verses for
Bible Verses for Grief After a Miscarriage
A holy ache the world rarely names — scripture for the weight you're carrying.